The Tree Of Life with April BASKIN

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Today we discuss the state of Jewish of Jewish identity with April Baskin. April Baskin has been committed to opening doors and embracing diversity in the Jewish community throughout her career. Raised in Sacramento, CA, by a white Jewish mother and a black Jewish father, Baskin was immersed in Reform Jewish life from an early age, and relished opportunities in her synagogue, camp, and youth group to engage in Jewish learning and participate in social action. “I was that rare kid who not only liked, but loved Hebrew school,” she has said. As an adult, she drew on her experience as a young, multiracial Jew who had felt both inside and outside mainstream Jewish life, to consult with Jewish organizations across the country on diversity initiatives. Baskin attended Tufts University, graduating with a degree in Sociology in 2007. She served as president of the Jewish Multiracial Network from 2010 to 2013, and worked at InterfaithFamily as their Director of Resources and Training. In 2015, she joined the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ) as Vice President of Audacious Hospitality, a title that reflects the URJ’s commitment to welcoming groups of Jews who have traditionally been marginalized from institutional Jewish settings. This inaugural position, which she still held until the end of 2018, was a natural outgrowth of Baskin’s dedication to social justice, activism, and outreach and enabled her to shape programs and policies that she says “incorporate the diversity that is the reality and future of Jewish life.” April is a member of Bend the Arc’s Selah Leadership Network and has served on the leadership team of the Jewish Social Justice Roundtable since 2017.